Texas Tech basketball just wouldn’t go away against Arkansas on Thursday night, and its efforts are sending it to the Elite Eight of the 2025 men’s NCAA Tournament.
The Red Raiders mounted a 16-point comeback in the second half to force overtime, before taking the win in the extra period. The win marks the second-largest comeback win in Sweet 16 history, as Texas Tech fought past its shooting struggles and got hot when it mattered late, outscoring Arkansas 54-45 in the second half and overtime combined.
Darrion Williams was the catalyst for the Red Raiders, as he was 2 for 14 shooting at one point in the second half but was able to make key shots when needed. Williams made a game-tying 3-pointer to send the game to overtime before hitting a game-winning layup in the extra period, finishing the game with 20 points and a plethora of winning plays that didn’t show up in the box score.
Arkansas’ run comes to end, despite Johnell Davis dropping a game-high 30 points. Texas Tech will face 1-seed Florida for a spot in the elite Eight.
Here’s the final score and highlights from Texas Tech’s Sweet 16 win, which USA TODAY Sports covered from start to finish:
Texas Tech vs Arkansas score
Texas Tech’s Darrion Williams wins it with a game-winning layup with seven seconds left. DJ Wagner had a chance at the buzzer, but his shot falls short.
The Red Raiders head to the Elite Eight to face Florida after mounting the second-largest comeback win in Sweet 16 history.
Texas Tech vs Arkansas Sweet 16 live updates
Darrion Williams wins it for Tech
Williams backs down his defender and hits the tough layup with seven seconds left. DJ Wagner’s shot at the buzzer fell short, as Texas Tech holds on for an 85-83 win.
What a game.
Trevon Brazile ties it with 3-pointer
Brazile nails a 3-pointer to tie the game at 81. Back and forth, back and forth.
Karter Knox with the layup and the foul
Knox drives the baseline and finishes a tough layup over a Texas Tech defender, but he can’t convert the free throw. Arkansas leads 76-74 with 3:14 left.
Texas Tech-Arkansas heads to overtime
What a half from Arkansas, as D.J. Wagner’s shot at the buzzer clanks off the rim. Texas Tech and Arkansas are headed to overtime after the Red Raiders end the half on a 16-3 run.
This is March!
Texas Tech ties it!
Darrion Williams ties it with a 3-pointer! Texas Tech-Arkansas at 72 all with 9.7 seconds to go. Texas Tech is on a 16-3 run the last 4:21 of game clock.
Arkansas has a chance to win it here, though.
Texas Tech answers with own 3-pointer
Christian Anderson has found his stroke, and he answers Knox’s 3-pointer with another of his own. Texas Tech trails 72-69, but misses a 3-pointer with under a minute remaining.
Tech fouls Jonas Aidoo, who misses the 1-and-1 free throw, giving the Red Raiders the ball back with 27 seconds left. Texas Tech calls timeout to prepare for this potential final possession.
Karter Knox with huge 3-pointer
Arkansas extends its lead to 72-66 on a huge 3-pointer with under two minutes to go just before the shot clock expires. Wow.
Texas Tech on a 10-0 run
Here comes the Red Raiders, as Christian Anderson’s 3-pointer cuts their deficit to 69-63 with 1:55 left in the second half.
Texas Tech just won’t go away, and it’s going to have a chance here late after John Calipari calls a timeout.
Texas Tech on 9-0 run
Don’t count out Texas Tech yet, as the Red Raiders have found some momentum and are on a 9-0 run. Arkansas still leads 61-54.
Trevon Brazile with the ferocious dunk
Brazile beats his defender to the baseline and dunks around him, getting fouled in the process for the and-one. Arkansas takes a 56-41 lead on the 3-point play. What a dunk.
Arkansas leads 44-37 at under-16 timeout
The difference in this one so far? Arkansas is shooting 46.7% from 3-point range to Texas Tech’s 15.8%.
The Red Raiders are really missing their second-leading scorer Chance McMillan, one of the best 3-point shooters in the country. Forward Darrion Williams is having a tough night, at 2 for 14 from the field and 1 of 8 from 3-point range.
Arkansas takes 13-point lead
Arkansas has held Texas Tech scoreless for nearly three minutes, and in the meantime has extended its lead to 38-25 with just over a minute until halftime.
The Razorbacks are getting big performances from Johnell Davis, Karter Knox and D.J. Wagner, who have scored 14, 11 and nine points, respectively, to carry their offense.
Is Kevin Knox Karter Knox’s brother?
Karter Knox is the younger brother of Kevin Knox, the No. 9 overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft out of Kentucky, where he played under Arkansas coach John Calipari. Kevin Knox is currently on the Golden State Warriors’ NBA roster after spending time with the G-League affiliate this season.
Karter Knox leads all scorers with 11 points late in the first half of Thursday’s game.
Billy Richmond injury update
Richmond apparently tweaked his ankle and went to the locker room. He had his ankle re-taped and returned to the sideline, and it reportedly won’t impact his availability the rest of the game, according to the TBS broadcast.
Arkansas on 12-2 run, leads 18-7
The Razorbacks are hot from 3-point range, shooting 4 of 5 from deep already. Karter Knox is up to 11 points with three of those 3-pointers, leading all scorers.
Arkansas’ post players are doing a nice job of containing JT Toppin early.
Texas Tech-Arkansas underway
JT Toppin gets the scoring started with a layup, and Texas Tech leads 2-0 just after the tipoff. Here we go.
Chance McMillan injury update
Texas Tech senior guard Chance McMillan, who’s averaging 14.2 points per game this season, will miss tonight’s game with a strained oblique, the program announced. He was seen practicing on Wednesday but is unable to go.
The second-team All-Big 12 selection has yet to play in the NCAA Tournament for the Red Raiders.
Who is J.T. Toppin?
Toppin, Texas Tech’s leading scorer at 18.1 points per game, is a first-year transfer from New Mexico, and was named the Big 12 Player of the Year this season.
Toppin, 6-foot-9, is also averaging 9.3 rebounds per game while shooting 56.2% from the field.
Texas Tech vs Arkansas basketball location
Texas Tech and Arkansas are playing at the Chase Center in San Francisco, where the NBA’s Golden State Warriors play their home games.
Adou Thiero injury update
Thiero, one of Arkansas’ top players, has yet to play in the NCAA Tournament due to a knee injury he suffered against Missouri in February.
‘We’ll see tomorrow,’ Calipari said. ‘If we had 8-to-10 minutes from him in case of foul trouble, it would help, but we’re fine.’
John Calipari Sweet 16 record
Calipari joined Lon Kruger as the lone coaches ever to lead four different programs to the Sweet 16 when Arkansas reached the second weekend this season.
This season also marks Calipari’s 16th time reaching the Sweet 16, as he has accomplished the feat at each school he has coached at, from UMass to Memphis to Kentucky and now Arkansas.
Calipari has been quite successful in Sweet 16 games in his career. Here’s his career Sweet 16 record:
Calipari Sweet 16 record: 12-3
Arkansas basketball stats
Note: Adou Thiero and Boogie Fland are averaging 15.6 and 14.2 points per game this season, respectively, but have missed extended time due to injury. Thiero is expected to contribute on Thursday with Fland already returned for the tournament.
Here are Arkansas’ stats leaders on a per-game basis for the 2024-25 season:
Points: Johnell Davis (11.4)
Rebounds: Trevon Brazile (5.4)
Assists: D.J. Wagner (3.6)
Steals: Johnell Davis (1.5)
Blocks: Zvonimir Ivisic (1.)
Texas Tech vs Arkansas men’s basketball betting odds
Spread: Texas Tech (-5.5)
Over/under: 148.5
Moneyline: Texas Tech -250 | Arkansas +200
Men’s March Madness championship odds
March Madness odds, according to BetMGM, as of Wednesday, March 26
Here’s a full look at the odds of each remaining team to win the men’s NCAA Tournament.
Duke (+210)
Florida (+340)
Houston (+475)
Auburn (+475)
Tennessee (+1600)
Alabama (+1900)
Michigan State (+1900)
Texas Tech (+2200)
Maryland (+3500)
Arizona (+5000)
Kentucky (+6600)
Purdue (+8000)
BYU (+8000)
Michigan (+8000)
Ole Miss (+9000)
Arkansas (+10000)
Texas Tech vs Arkansas picks and predictions
USA TODAY Network’s experts are split down the middle on this game. While USA TODAY’s Craig Meyer and SW Times’ Jackson Fuller like Arkansas to keep on dancing into the Elite Eight, AZ Central’s Jeremy Cluff and the Lubbock Avalanche Journal’s Nathan Giese believe the Red Raiders will stonewall Calipari’s Razorbacks. The only consensus? It will be close.
Jeremy Cluff: Texas Tech 70, Arkansas 67
Craig Meyer: Arkansas 78, Texas Tech 74
Jackson Fuller: Arkansas 81, Texas Tech 78
Nathan Giese: Texas Tech 79, Arkansas 72
What time is Texas Tech vs Arkansas today?
Tipoff: 10:09 p.m. ET
Where to watch Texas Tech vs Arkansas?
TV Channel: TBS/truTV
Live Stream: Sling TV
Texas Tech vs Arkansas will be broadcast on TBS and truTV. The game can be streamed on Sling TV, which has the Warner Bros. Discovery family of networks. An alternative option is to watch on Max, which is airing any games not broadcast on CBS.